moment brings; no youthful monarch
Were more intoxicated, when the breezes
Should waft to him that cryptic word "possession."
[He nears the window.]
Ah, lovely stars, are ye out there as ever?
From out of this unstable mortal body
To look upon your courses in your whirling
Eternal orbits--that has been the food
That bore with ease my years, until I thought
I scarcely felt my feet upon the earth.
And have I really withered, while my eyes
Clung to yon golden suns, that do not wither?
And have I learned of all the quiet plants,
And marked their parts and understood their lives,
And how they differ when upon the mountains,
Or when by running streams we find them growing,--
Almost a new creation, yet at bottom
A single species; and with confidence
Could say, this one does well, its food is pure,
And lightly bears the burden of its leaves,
But this through worthless soil and sultry vapors
Has thickened stems, and bloated, swollen leaves ...
And more ... and of myself I can know nothing,
And heavy scales are crusted on my eyes,
Impeding judgment ...
[He hastily steps before the mirror again.]
Soulless tool!
Not like some books and men caught unawares:
Thou never canst reveal the hidden truth
As in a lightning flash.

SERVANT (returning).
My master.

MERCHANT.
Well?

SERVANT.
The guests depart. The father of thy bride
And others have been asking after thee.

MERCHANT.
And what of her?

SERVANT.
She takes leave of her parents.

[MERCHANT stands a moment with staring
eyes, then goes out at the door to the left
with long strides. SERVANT follows him.
The stage remains empty for a short time.
Then the MERCHANT reenters, hearing a
candelabrum which he places on the table
beside the evening drink. SOBEIDE enters
behind him, led by her father and mother.
All stop in the centre of the room, somewhat
to the left, th